Influence of shapes of the Ngoro on depression storage and crop performance.
| dc.contributor.author | Mogasa Pili Mogasa | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-12-11T07:50:12Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-12-11T07:50:12Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 1999 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | A field experiment was conducted in the 1995/1996 growing season on a slope of 30% on the foothill of the Uluguru Mountains in Morogoro, Tanzania. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the influence of various Shapes of the ngoro cultivation system on (i) soil moisture storage (ii) depression storage and (iii) maize growth parameters and yield. Three Shapes of the ngoro pits namely: Shape 1 (Rectangular with the longest side across the slope), Shape 2 (Rectangular with the longest side along the slope) and Shape 3 (Square) were compared with flat cultivation, a common practice in the study area. The various ngoro Shapes stored at least 1.36 times more soil moisture than flat cultivation (significant at the 5% level). The position of the ridge on the four sides of the pit had no significant effect on soil moisture storage (P < 0.05). Ngoro cultivation showed significantly higher amounts of soil organic matter (41% to 53%) than flat cultivation which had the lowest (about 6% organic matter, P < 0.05). Top soil (0 - 10 cm) had 15% organic matter (o.m.) compared to 7% and 6% o.m. at a depth of 10- 20 cm and 20-30 cm, respectively. Bulk density was significantly lower in the ngoro compared with flat cultivation (P < 0.05). Shapel had significantly (about 27%) lower depression storage compared to Shapes 2 and 3 (P < 0.05). Ngoro cultivation produced about 66% more grain than flat cultivation. This yield difference was significant (P < 0.05). The position of the ridge on the slope had no significant effect on maize growth and grain yield (p < 0.05). Therefore, if the aim is to improve maize performance in the study area any Shape of the ngoro can be employed as found out from this study. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Norwegian Agency for Development Co operation (NORAD) and Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/20.500.14820/7185 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Uluguru Mountains | |
| dc.subject | Soil organic matter | |
| dc.subject | Soil moisture | |
| dc.subject | Tillage system | |
| dc.title | Influence of shapes of the Ngoro on depression storage and crop performance. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |